KEVIN Phillips was today due to undergo keyhole surgery which will rule him out of Saturday's clash with Manchester United.

KEVIN Phillips was today due to undergo keyhole surgery which will rule him out of Saturday's clash with Manchester United.

The 32-year-old is bound for the operating table in a bid to remove a small fragment of floating bone on his ankle.

Phillips twisted his ankle in training eight days ago in the run-up to last Saturday's trip to Bolton.

Initial scans showed there was no ligament damage but Phillips has been unable to progress in training since.

And with the striker in discomfort, Villa's medical staff have decided on this course of action.

It will keep the former Southampton striker out for a third successive game after illness forced him to miss the trip to Newcastle.

But he is not expected to need any long period of recuperation.

Villa will be aiming to record only their fourth league win in 40 attempts over United in 21 years.

At least there is better news from last night's reserve win at West Brom where Mark Delaney completed the full 90 minutes in a 4-0 win on his comeback from a groin injury.

Delaney said: "It was great to get a game under my belt. There was no reaction with the injury whatsoever."

Peter Whittingham, Sam Williams (2) and a Luke Moore penalty gave Villa a convincing win against a strong Albion side.

Eric Djemba-Djemba missed a first-half penalty in front of Leeds United manager Kevin Blackwell, who has been linked with the midfielder.

Blackwell is also believed to be tracking defender Ulises de la Cruz - out of contract in the summer and needing first-team action before the World Cup with Ecuador - who was taken off after the break.